Several readers have asked me how to win Swag Bucks. I know there are still many of you who don’t think it works, I was skeptical in the beginning too.
Then, last year I was able to pay for all our Christmas presents using swag bucks to purchase Amazon gift cards, and the gift cards to purchase gifts.
After Christmas was paid for I started saving my swag bucks for these:
And last week, I bought an iMac computer for my children using Swag Bucks!
Now, you can’t earn enough swag bucks to buy a computer overnight, (well some of you probably can) but over time they do add up.
Here are ways you can earn Swag Bucks:
1. Use Swag Bucks to search the web.
Instead of using google I use swag bucks. I almost always find what I am looking for, and if I don’t, I just switch back to google. When you search using swag bucks you randomly win bucks.
2. Install the swag bucks toolbar.
I can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner. I installed the toolbar and I usually win several swag bucks a day for doing nothing! It just pops up on my computer screen.
3. Purchase items through the Swag Bucks website.
The swag bucks website usually has incentive programs if you buy through their affiliate links. Currently, if you order flowers through their link you earn 700 bucks.
4. Find the Swag Codes.
Swag Codes are released about once a day. They can appear anywhere, and at any time, throughout the Swag Bucks network. This includes, Swagbucks.com; the newsletter, any Swag Bucks powered Search&Win Site; the Official Swag Bucks blog, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter page, Flickr page; and affiliated partner sites. When you find the code, enter it in the swag code box on the site and earn bucks.
5. Trade in your old electronics.
You can earn bucks for trading in your old cell phones, video games and electronics.
6. Vote in the Daily Polls.
Each day the Swag Bucks website runs a poll. They are only one question and random participants earn a swag buck or two after they submit their answer.
7. Refer Friends.
This is the best way to earn swag bucks. When you log in to your account you will find your referral code. Even if you don’t have a blog you can share this code with your friends via email, facebook, etc. When your friends sign up using your code you earn swag bucks. You are awarded matching Swag Bucks only for the Bucks they win while searching (up to a total of 1,000).
A few more Swag Buck tips.
Recently Swag Bucks changed the value of the swag bucks. While you use to win 1, 2, or 5 bucks when you searched, now it is usually 10, 20, or 50 bucks. When they changed the value of the bucks, they also increased the cost of the prizes. A $5 Amazon gift card cost 45 Swag Bucks under the old system, now it costs 450 bucks. So if you had 300 Swag Bucks in your account, and now you have 3,000 it is because of the new system.
Redeem your Swag Bucks rather than hold on them. There is a limit on how many prizes you can buy each month so don’t hold all your bucks until you want something, cash them in as you go.
Friday is Mega Swag Bucks day. That means you have the chance to earn more Swag Bucks on Friday than other days of the week.
If you aren’t using Swag Bucks I would encourage you to give it a try and see if it works for you. If you signed up a long time ago, but stopped using it, try it again. It has been a financial blessing for our family and a great way to stretch the budget!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
They’re still not in Australia :’( I’d sign up as american but in my experience, when it comes to financial prizes they aren’t so keen or easy to redeem if the country you are in isn’t listed. I’m so desperate to use it!
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TheHappyHousewife Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:39 am
I know, I emailed them about the overseas stuff and they said not yet. Maybe one day?
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I wish it had worked for me, as it does for you. It tooks months and months for me to earn just the $5.00 gift card and I never got it. I know it works well for a friend of mine, just not for me.
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Fishinastorm Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Michelle…I don’t know if you know this, but the gift card is not sent to you…The amazon coupon code appears in “My gifts” section after u click on ur “account” link…It appears only on the 1st and 17th of each month (if the dates happen to be weekends, then they display the code the earlier weekday….
I just used my gift card to get a sony ericsson w580i accessories kit…:)
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Michelle Reply:
May 19th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Thanks. I knew that I wasn’t going to get a “card”. I went back and searched again and found it. I have started using swagbucks search again. I am still not getting very far on the earnings, but decided to keep using it and maybe get something at Christmas time.
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I love swag bucks especially with the new system. I have just recently joined and my amount keeps jumping and jumping. I would also encourage people to try it again or just to try it period.
An iMac computer…that is impressive!
Thank you for the advice on cashing in your swagbucks as you go. That is really helpful information.
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It seems like the people who “make” the most swagbucks are those who have tons of people sign up under them. Do you find that to be the case?
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TheHappyHousewife Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I think referrals are definitely important, and the best way to accumulate a lot of swag bucks quickly. But, I try to earn swag bucks from every option, not just referrals.
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Kelli Reply:
May 9th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
How do you get your referral code for family and friends to sign up with swagbucks. I can’t see to locate one. Thank you
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I signed up for it a while back, and I can’t stand it. It changes the search engine, and it stinks! I can’t find anything anymore, and I end up opening a new browser so I can google. Don’t you miss googling? I dunno about this. I earn about 13 bucks a day.
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TheHappyHousewife Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Well, I always use Swag Bucks first, if I don’t find what I want I switch to google. It is a little inconvenient, but it is worth it for me.
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Fishinastorm Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 12:46 am
Becky,
You can still use google without having to change browser or open new window……Here’s how to do it….
1) Install swagbucks toolbar from the main website…U can use the swag bucks toolbar’s search box to earn points……
2) If u want to use google (assuming u r using firefox), u can select google as ur search engine by clicking on a small downward triangle in the top right of ur firefox window and then choosing “google”…u only have to do it once….
Even if u r using another browser, u can use google….let me know which browser u r using so that i can better help u…
Cheers.
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becky Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 11:38 am
I am using Firefox. I changed the setting in the search box in the upper right hand corner. In gray it now says “Google” instead of “Swag Bucks Customized Web Search.” Is this what you were referring to? If I understand correctly, using my google search will not earn points. I need to get the toolbar again…
Thanks for the tips. I might get to do this after all…
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fishinastorm Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Becky…since you are using firefox, here is what you have to do…
1) Go to http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-plugins. Here you can download a whole new toolbar specifically for searchign with swagbucks. After you download the toolbar, you have to restart your browser once. In that toolbar you have a login button where you can enter you account. click remember password so that you don’t have to type your password everytime.
2) now go to the top right corner (just like you did) and make google appear in gray.
Yes, google search will not give you swag points. So if you want to earn swagbuck points, use the toolbar mentioned above. If you want to do some google searching , use the upper right box. So now, u don’t have to open a new browser or do anything….in the same tab, you can do earn swagbuck points by searching and also use google toolbar for better search results…
becky Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 11:30 am
I got it all set up again. Thanks!
I think you’ve convinced me to at least give it a try…I don’t know anyone personally who has used this, though, so if you e-mail your swagbucks code (or whatever identifier used) I’ll use it when I sign up so you can benefit, as well.
Tamatha
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Can you tell me—if you get the amazon gift cards, can you use more than one per order? As in, if my order totals $25 can I use 5 $5 gift cards? Or should I save them up for the $50 or whatever? I did the math and I think it costs less swagbucks to get a bunch of the $5 ones rather than one larger one.
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Rachel Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
You can use as many gift cards as you want. I recently spent $30.03 on Amazon.com. I had 6 $5 gift cards so I used them all and all I ended up paying was $0.03. It was so great to be able to get something for my daughter and it not really cost us anything at all. I love Swagbucks.
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Thanks for the great tips. I have been wondering what the swag codes were all about and how to get one. In just 2 weeks since downloading the toolbar I have over 700 SwagBucks.
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curious as to how you earn so many swagbucks so quickly? i have been doing this for 5 months and only have around 3000. i have the toolbar and i search for EVERYTHING using swagbucks. what am i doing wrong?
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I’d like to try this too! As often as I’m on my laptop, it would be great to benefit from it! =) Can I also have your code to register for Swagbucks? Thx so much!
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Wow, I guess I’d better keep trying…
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Always was curious about swagbucks but always had one question? Do you have to report any of the prizes or anything on your taxes. Just curious. This has been thew one thing that has stopped me from doing swagbucks.
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TheHappyHousewife Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
I do report the prizes on my taxes. Sorry
.
Toni
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This is the best explanation of swag bucks I’ve run across so far. Thanks! I’ll have to look into it.
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I have no problem getting the swag buck every day that I open my browser (FireFox). what i have a problem with is when i do a search with the swag tool bar, a window opens saying i have XX number of swag bucks. all i have to do is enter the 3 digit letters in the box so they know i am not a robot …
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I lost the first note.,. here it is again: i use the SB tool bar to search, they then send me to a page where i have to enter a 3 digit letter to show i’m not a robot. i enter the letters EXACTLY and they keep telling me i didn’t get it right. i enter capital letters and then i enter lower case letters … NEITHER ONE WORKS. i have asked the swag bucks people many times to help out with this, but they are stumped too apparently. I am presently using FireFox to browse. i have tried it also with Windows Internet Explorer. NOTHING WORKS. i am really getting frustrated.
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TheHappyHousewife Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Paula-
I am sorry you have having trouble.
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I’m going to try it to cash something while being at the laptop. Do you know if it works with the iphone?
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